Florida baseball coach, wife killed, son injured in electrocution at baseball field

By Eryn Dion edion@pcnh.com

Monday

Mar 11, 2019 at 10:06 AMMar 11, 2019 at 10:09 AM

A couple was killed and their son injured Sunday after they were electrocuted during a volunteer workday to clean up the Liberty County High School baseball field in Bristol, Fla.

Head baseball coach Corey Crum, 39, and his wife Shana, 41, were killed and their son Chase, 14, was injured in the accident.

According to Liberty County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy John Summers, the team, along with other students and parents, were having a workday at the field to repair damage from Hurricane Michael. Corey Crum was operating a boom lift and unloading items from a trailer when the lift touched the overhead power lines, electrocuting him.

Shana Crum then ran to his aid and, in her attempts to help him, was electrocuted as well. Their son then attempted to help them both and was injured but is expected to recover.

The accident happened around 12:45 p.m. in full view of the students, team members and parents at the field. When EMS arrived, both adults were pronounced dead at the scene and their son transported. No other injuries were reported.

After the accident, students who were at the field were taken to the Liberty County High School gym to wait for their parents. Summers said many of the students and the community were in shock at what they’d witnessed. Grief counselors were available and will continue to be available at schools as needed, according to Summers.

“It’s terrible,” Summers said. “It’s just terrible.”

Liberty County school board member Kyle Peddle posted on his Facebook page Sunday night about the community’s loss.

“Coaches have special places in the hearts of each one they coach,” he wrote. “Coach Crum invested in our boys daily. They are better men because of it. We will recover...we trust the Lord, and we are Bulldogs!”

Numerous school districts and baseball programs have expressed sympathy and support for Liberty County following this tragedy.

“We join educators everywhere in expressing our deep sorrow for the loss of their coach and his wife,” Bay District Schools posted on their Facebook page. “We hope for a speedy recovery for their son and for peace for all of the friends and family members who have suffered such a great loss. #WeAreAllLiberty.”

This was Corey Crum’s first year as the head baseball coach after coaching junior varsity. The Tallahassee Democrat reported Shana Crum was a health aid with the school district.